230 On Chronic Dehilitt/ 



The muscular coat and the. secreting vessels thus be- 

 come weakened ; the food remains too long in the stom- 

 ach, or is forced in a crude state into the intestines. 



3. Tobacco, and other narcotics. 



Tobacco, whether smoked or chewed, operates in two 

 ways ; by its narcotic efiect, in lessening the tone of the 

 stomach ; and by the waste of saliva. Opium produces 

 very powerful narcotic effects, and together with Tobac- 

 co, is a frequent cause of distressing and long continued 

 dj^spepsia. The worst case of the disease 1 ever met 

 with, was produced either wholly or chiefly, by the 

 abundant and daily use of Opium. 



4. An immoderate use of sugar, acids, and various 

 crude substances. 



5. A very frequent use of certain medicines. 



Some persons are ready on all occasions when indis- 

 posed, however slightly, to resort to medicines for relief, 

 and generally to those of a very active kind. I know a 

 sturdy iifiechanic, who, in consequence of costiveness, in- 

 duced by a too sedentary life, resorted to Lee'^s Pills^* 

 (a drastic cathartic) for relief. Their operation was cer- 

 tain, and it was cheaper at the outset than to apply to a 

 sensible physician ; hence they were continued, till after 

 taking about eighty boxes of them, the stomach and in- 

 testines became so torpid, that an evacuation could not 

 usually be obtained without similar aid. 



6. A cause intimately allied to this is the improper 

 medical treatment of acute, and also of certain chronic 

 diseases. 



A gentleman some years ago was seized in the month 

 of August with a low fever. Two physicians, under 

 \vhose care he was placed, seemed to suppose, that most 

 diseases were owing to "« vast mass of morh'id matter 

 as black as tar^accumulated in the intestines.^^ They ac- 

 cordingly drenched him for several weeks, with power- 

 ful doses of Calomel and Jalap, Scammony, Gamboge, 

 &c. In this manner they thoroughly abraded his intes- 

 tines, and so far destroyed their tone, that for many 

 months he was aiRicted with the most distressing costive- 

 ness, a loss of appetite, and general debility. The liir 



* A patent medicine sold in great quantities in Connecticut. 



